Tonight we play the best team in the Eastern Conference. After a poor loss to Red Bulls and United’s top form, this game looks to be very difficult for our sky blue team.

Form

NYCFC are as eclectic as ever. After coming out swinging in the first 10 minutes of the Hudson River Derby, we sank into our normal mediocrity for the rest of the match. After Wright-Phillips hit that first goal, we all knew the game was ostensibly over, unless we had a miraculous change of form. Which we didn’t. Point being, NYCFC are playing ok, and expect nothing more and nothing less tonight.

DC are in great form, currently sitting atop the table having a laugh. For all the money spent on superstars and foreign talent below them, DC have put together a team of MLS veterans who all work hard for each other and have been playing quite well. It’s not the sexiest football ever, but when everyone does their job, it’s a well-oiled machine.

Lineups

DC (4-4-2): Hamid (GK), Kemp (LB), Boswell (CB), Birnbaum (CB), Korb (RB), Rolfe (LM), Arnaud (CM), Kitchen (CM), DeLeon (RM), Arrieta (ST), Saborio (ST)

-Fabian Espindola is out with a sprained knee, while Michael Farfan is a doubt with a hamstring injury.

NYCFC (4-5-1): Saunders (GK), Angelino (LB), Mena (CB), Facey (CB), Iraola (RB), Jacobson (CM), Pirlo (CM), McNamara (LM), Poku (CAM), Mix (RM), Villa (ST)

-Lampard picked up a quad injury in training Wednesday and is a doubt for tonight’s game. He could rebound quickly enough to start, but will most likely feature on the bench. Poku should slot in nicely.

-Chris Wingert is still out with a hamstring injury.

-The good news? Ned Grabavoy still has the NYCFC “classic”, aka a right adductor injury. The bad news? Khiry Shelton somehow STILL is injured with a left quad problem. Will he ever make the bench? Who knows. Oh dear.

Final Thoughts

Hey, we could pull off an upset. Right? RIGHT?

Oy vey. At least we get to see what’s supposed to be the best team in the conference. That should be nice.